Absence of main opposition remains the biggest challenge
Although this new US visa policy is proving expedient, it would not be wise to believe that the country is intent on fostering democracy in Bangladesh.
It is quite intriguing how the RPA amendment can be so accommodating to defaulters who are desperate to gain political power.
It appears, then, that the Awami League’s bold rhetoric of development and prosperity, transparency and good governance, and fostering democracy is rendered hollow by its own partymen – unwittingly or not.
Just as BNP was about to come up with fresh programmes, Ramadan arrived, rendering all politics to the confines of the iftar table.
The BNP will go tough on its leaders and activists who will run for councillor in the city polls and those who will patronise them.
Sumon, a crime reporter at Agami News, was attacked while taking photos of a gathering of Awami League activists in Rayerbazar area on Dhaka city corporation election day.
While we are happy that the three city mayoral elections have come to an end with little violence, they were, as we had feared, simply the iteration of the Khulna and Gazipur polls. They bear nearly all the hallmarks—from ballot stuffing to expelling election agents—of a heavily manipulated election.
Voting in Barisal, Sylhet and Rajshahi city corporations begins this morning with all the mayoral candidates except for the ones from the Awami League casting doubt about fair polls amid arrests and harassment of their supporters.
Overwhelmed by the vociferous postmortem of the city corporation polls, two footfalls on the cityscape have gone unnoticed, unappreciated, as though coming and going on stealth.
Writ petition is filed with High Court seeking directives on Election Commission and government to form judicial inquiry commission for investigation into "irregularities" during city polls.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called to find a political way forward between all the parties in Bangladesh during his conversation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday.
The EC's tilt was no less pronounced on the eve of and on the day of the elections. Press reports, photographs and narratives of many involved in the election administration process have amply established its culpability in undermining fair election.
BNP urges Election Commission to cancel Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation elections alleging massive irregularities and demands fresh polls.
Top US official Wendy Sherman stresses need for transparent probe into “allegations” of irregularities surrounding the recently concluded city polls.
BNP's decision to boycott the election halfway into the voting has surprised most observers.
THE handsome, charismatic and successful young men join hands and smile for the perfect photo.
Though not happy with the irregularities and vote rigging during the just held city corporation elections, commoners in Dhaka city want to see their city clean, free of traffic-jam and developed.
IT is difficult to accept the comments of the CEC that the three city corporation elections were held in a fair and peaceful manner and that there were no threats or anomalies.
